Patents Examined by Nigel H Plumb
  • Patent number: 11680862
    Abstract: A gauge pressure transducer assembly having anti-icing features to allow for easy drainage of fluids to prevent pooling and icing. The assembly can include a header having one or more atmospheric ports extending therethrough, a differential sensing element mounted to the header, a header cap attached to at least a portion of the header, a gauge adapter attached to the header and in communication with the one or more atmospheric ports of the header, an elongated tube attached to the header cap, and a front port attached to the elongated tube. The gauge adapter includes a plurality of through-holes to facilitate drainage and de-icing, which is an improvement over conventional transducers that can trap water within the ports that can freeze and cause damage. The header and the gauge adapter of the gauge pressure transducer assembly can reduce or eliminate regions where water can pool and freeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11680829
    Abstract: There is provided a system for determining multiple baselines for detecting events in a conduit. The system comprises an optical fiber interrogator for interrogating optical fiber; and one or more processors communicative with the optical fiber interrogator and memory having stored thereon computer program code configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform a method. The method comprises, for each of multiple channels of the conduit, each channel comprising a portion of the conduit: obtaining phase data for the channel, the phase data being obtained by causing the optical fiber interrogator to interrogate optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit; and determining one or more baselines from the phase data. As a result, events in the conduit may be detected with fewer false positives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Adekunle Adeyemi, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11680856
    Abstract: A controller configured for detecting a disturbance using a comparison of outputs of at least two sensors and for determining a pressure from the outputs of the at least two sensors. A ratio of the measurement sensitivity and the disturbance sensitivity should be different for the at least two sensors. A method for monitoring disturbances of a sensor assembly includes comparing the outputs of the at least two sensors. The controller and related method provide, while requiring only two sensors, a redundant system that is also able to detect excessive disturbances on a sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Johan Vergauwen, Ben Maes, Maliheh Ramezani, Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel
  • Patent number: 11674862
    Abstract: A pressure sensing unit, a capacitive hybrid sensor device, and an input apparatus using the same are provided. The pressure sensing unit for detecting pressing events includes a pressure sensing pad group and a floating conductive element. The pressure sensing pad group includes a first pressure sensing pad, a second pressure sensing pad, and a ground pad that are spaced apart from one another. The first and second pressure sensing pads are electrically shielded from each other by the ground pad. One among the floating conductive element and the pressure sensing pad group is configured to be movable in a movement direction relative to another one among the floating conductive element and the pressure sensing pad group. The floating conductive element overlaps with the pressure sensing pad group in the movement direction. Therefore, a signal-to-noise ratio can be increased and an erroneous detection can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Che-Chia Hsu, Yu-Han Chen, Chi-Chieh Liao
  • Patent number: 11676802
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a substrate support having a sensor assembly, and processing chamber having the same. In one embodiment, a substrate support has a puck. The puck has a workpiece support surface and a gas hole exiting the workpiece support surface. A sensor assembly is disposed in the gas hole and configured to detect a metric indicative of a deflection of a workpiece disposed on the workpiece support surface, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to provide the benefit of allowing gas to flow past the sensor assembly when positioned in the gas hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Glenn Boyd, Jr., Govinda Raj, Matthew James Busche
  • Patent number: 11668616
    Abstract: A stretchable sensor skin is provided, which is a soft tactile sensor sleeve that can cover large areas of a robot, and is both low-cost and robust. It is made of elastomer molded pouches (referred to as sensor taxels) that when contacted transmit pneumatic pressure to off-board barometric sensors, via stretchable channels. The entirely soft makeup of the sleeve makes it highly conformable to 3D curved geometries of a robot. The stretchable channels mean that it can cover joints without wiring getting caught. The stretchable rubber channels are also inherently more robust than stretchable conductor approaches, and the skin lacks fragile soft-rigid interfaces that has plagued many other sensor skins. The fact that there are no conductive components also makes the skin easy to sanitize and waterproof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Alexander M. Gruebele, Michael A. Lin, Mark R. Cutkosky, Daniel C. Brouwer
  • Patent number: 11668614
    Abstract: A wearable universal blast sensor includes an underwater pressure sensing transducer and at least one blast parameter sensing transducer to measure a blast parameter from the blast other than pressure, an analog-to-digital converter having an analog input and a digital output, the analog input coupled to the pressure sensing transducer and a digital output, a rolling memory buffer coupled to the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, at least one controller coupled to the rolling memory buffer and configured to store a time sequence of digital pressure signals from the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, write into a blast event memory data from the rolling memory buffer including data corresponding to the blast event if one of the digital pressure signals exceeds a set first threshold, generate a first blast magnitude indicator signal if any of the digital pressure signals exceeds a second set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Advanced Materials and Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Willens, Blake Muzinich, Barkan Kavlicoglu, Faramarz Gordaninejad
  • Patent number: 11668632
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a controlled, predictable, reproducible and variable-size distribution of particulate matter (PM), particle number (PN) and/or facsimile/simulation, derived from vaporizing and condensing a specialized liquid, utilizing a vapor delivery device; a filter capability so as to remove a significant amount of ambient PM/PN as a secondary calibration process for the identification of fine and ultra-fine particles (e.g., 0.3 micrometers and smaller) as well as a computer-controlled ability to perform a pre-determined series of calibration routines, housed in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: 3DATX Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Ropkins, David Miller, John William Hynd, Jodi Miller, Craig Pfister, Andrew Burnette, Gurdas Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11662263
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a housing, an isolator positioned at a first end of the housing, and a first cavity formed between the first end of the housing and the isolator. The pressure sensor further includes a second cavity formed in the housing and a channel with a first end fluidly connected to the first cavity and a second end fluidly coupled to the second cavity. A pressure sensor chip is positioned in the second cavity and includes a first diaphragm positioned at a top side of the pressure sensor chip laterally outwards from the second end of the channel to prevent a fluid from jetting onto the first diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: David P. Potasek, Ulf J. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 11656134
    Abstract: A pressing force sensor includes a sensor area, individual electrodes arranged in a matrix in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction in the sensor area, a common electrode opposed to the individual electrodes, first spacers arranged between the individual electrodes and the common electrode and overlapping the individual electrodes, and second spacers disposed in the sensor area and formed of a different material from the first spacers. With that arrangement, the dynamic range of the pressing force sensor is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroumi Kinjo
  • Patent number: 11650119
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a substrate, a first pressure sensing element, a second pressure sensing element, and sensor conditioning circuitry disposed on a first surface of the substrate. The sensor conditioning circuitry is electronically coupled to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element, thus multiple pressure sensing elements being disposed on a single substrate can reduce material cost and improve the performance of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lamar Floyd Ricks, Ian Bentley, Jim Cook, Josh M. Fribley
  • Patent number: 11650142
    Abstract: A measuring system for reducing the effort necessary to measure tree strength that includes support posts, a winding device configured to wind a cable supported by the support posts, a winding device configured to wind the cable, a hoisting device coupled to the cable and configured to move in air when the cable is wound by the winding device, and a measuring device hung from the hoisting device and configured to measure the strength of a tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuo Suyama
  • Patent number: 11644376
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for indicating the presence of a threshold directional differential pressure between separated adjacent spaces. An inclined conduit contains at least one movable element that indicates whether the pressure difference between the two spaces is at least as high as a threshold pressure difference. The apparatus may provide a compact arrangement while allowing the movable element to have a suitable travel path length within the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: AirFlow Direction, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 11644300
    Abstract: A measurement device is disclosed for measuring a change in one or more of a circumference or a perimeter of at least a portion of an object having a surface. The measurement device includes a first part for attachment to the object, a second part having a first portion moveable relative to a first portion of the first part, a determining device for determining a displacement of the first portion of the second part relative to the first portion of the first part caused by the object changing, and a biasing device for biasing the first part and the second part towards engagement. The measured displacement is for use in determining the change in one or more of a circumference or a perimeter of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ERGO FIGURE LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Hodge
  • Patent number: 11635312
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to methods, computer program products, and systems for calibrating one or more remote sensing devices in an environment. The disclosed technology relates to a calibration device configured to determine measurement data within an environment. The calibration device may transmit the measurement values, or other calibration data items, to a remote sensing device via a wireless link while the remote sensing device stays with a structure in which the remote sensing device is commissioned to operate. In response to receiving the calibration data items, the remote sensing device may adjust one or more settings of the remote sensing device in order to satisfy a calibration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Fox, John Rogers, Ian Kerr, Daniel Pearce
  • Patent number: 11634881
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a bridge foundation scouring monitoring sensor and a monitoring data analysis method thereof. The disclosed sensor comprises a cover plate, a bottom fixing unit and several standard scouring depth monitoring units fixedly disposed between the cover plate and the bottom fixing unit. Each standard scouring depth monitoring unit comprises an optical fiber vibration string (OFVS) and a supporting frame; the two ends of the OFVS are fixedly connected with the supporting frame; a plurality of polyhedral mass blocks are evenly distributed on the OFBS from top to bottom; and a fiber Bragg grating sensor is disposed at the upper portion of OFBS. The variation of scour depth of bridge foundation induces the change of vibration frequency of the OFVS, which is measured by the fiber Bragg grating sensor. The method of calculating the scour depth from the measured vibration frequency of the OFVS is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Dongyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11630087
    Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ calibration of a photoacoustic sensor includes a measurement device configured to measure an electric signal at an IR emitter of the photoacoustic sensor, wherein the IR emitter generates an electromagnetic spectrum based on the electric signal; and a calibration unit including processing circuitry, configured to compare the electric signal with a comparison value to generate a comparison result used as calibration information. When performing the in-situ calibration, the calibration unit is configured to adjust the electric signal based on the calibration information, or the calibration unit is configured to process an output signal of the photoacoustic sensor based on the calibration information to obtain an adjusted output signal of the photoacoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Kolb, Alfons Dehe, Jochen Huber, Franz Jost, Horst Theuss, Juergen Woellenstein
  • Patent number: 11630012
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a micromechanical sensor element including a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which spans a cavity in a base material and includes a diaphragm electrode. A fixed counter electrode is situated inside the cavity and, with the diaphragm electrode, forms a first measuring capacitor for detecting a first measuring pressure. A reference capacitor is situated inside the cavity and includes a first and a second fixed reference electrode. The pressure sensor is operable in a first operating mode, in which the first measuring capacitor and the first reference capacitor are interconnected in a first bridge circuit. The pressure sensor is operable in a second operating mode, in which the diaphragm electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrodes are interconnected in such a way that the diaphragm electrode, together with the at least one first reference electrode, forms a second measuring capacitor for detecting a second measuring pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: David Slogsnat, Joachim Kreutzer
  • Patent number: 11628695
    Abstract: A tire sensor container system is provided. A tire includes a carcass toroidally extending from a first bead area to a second bead area, and an innerliner formed on an inner surface of the carcass. The tire sensor container system includes a tire pressure monitoring system sensor, which in turn includes a rigid housing that is formed with an oval shape. A flexible container is mounted to the innerliner. The container includes a base and a wall extending radially outwardly from the base, and the wall terminates in a lip. The container wall is formed with an oval shape that cooperates with the shape of the tire pressure monitoring sensor housing. A cavity is defined by the base, the wall, and the lip, and cavity receives and secures the tire pressure monitoring system sensor. The system reduces sensor rotation and maintains consistent sensor orientation to improve sensor functionality and longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey McKay West, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala, Michael William Kestner, Junling Zhao, Peter Jung-min Suh
  • Patent number: 11630020
    Abstract: A pressure sensor with calibration device includes a casing, a diaphragm, a sensing element, a medium, and at least one calibration element. The diaphragm is disposed on the casing, wherein the casing and the diaphragm define an accommodating space. The sensing element is disposed in the casing. The medium is filled in the accommodating space and in contact with the sensing element. The at least one calibration element is adjustably disposed at the casing and extended into the accommodating space to be in contact with the medium, wherein when the at least one calibration element is moved relative to the casing in a direction toward the accommodating space or in a direction away from the accommodating space, the at least one calibration element changes the pressure applied to the medium. The pressure sensor with calibration device adjusts the pressure value sensed by the sensing element via the calibration element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Che-Kai Yeh, Tzung-Ching Lee, Yu-Wen Hsu, Chao-Ta Huang